Slab leaks are some of the most common plumbing problems in many homes. The slab leaks are water leaks under the slabs of concrete in your home. The leaks aren’t a good sight to behold and most disturbing and frustrating. Slab leak detection is difficult to do because it happens underneath your floors. However, early slab leak detection is critical in the repair process. It helps to minimize the damages and it would help prevent needless expenses that could have been mitigated if you knew the warning signs to look out for.
What is a slab leak?
Slab leaks are some of the hardest leaks to detect or fix. Most homeowners don’t notice the slab leaks for a long time until the problem becomes too much. The broken pipe underneath your floor causes the water to rise and seep into the ground of your home’s foundation. The leak will damage the concrete of your home and soil erosion around it. Eventually, the foundation will buckle and shift. Not long, you will end up with cracked floors and walls. In the worst case scenario, if the slab leaks go undetected for years, the portion of your house may even collapse.
Slab leaks are common issues for homeowners but the frequency depends from region to region. Other states that are more prone to earthquakes and ground shifting causes ground cracks. Old homes are also more prone to slab leaks than newer homes because of their old copper pipes.
When do you need Slab Leak Repair
Use this list as a guide for you to know if you need a slab leak repair or not.
Hot spot on your home’s flooring
One of the basic slab leak detection methods is a persistent hot area of your floor. The warm area indicates that a hot water line is busted underneath your floor.
Water coming out from the slab
A water coming out from your slab or from the ground is an obvious indication of slab leak. Call in the help of professional plumbers immediately if you spot water from your slab.
Increased water bill
As a homeowner, you have an idea of your monthly water bill. If all of a sudden, your water bill increases even when the water usage is the same, then there’s something wrong with your system. There is a possible leak in your water line and with a leak, that means that your water is running 24 hours a day until you fix the issue. If you can’t find the leak in any visible area, then the next explanation is a slab leak. The solution is a slab leak repair.
Heaving foundation
Your foundation is heaving when there’s a swelling in your foundation slab. The swelling of your foundation can even lift your home slightly. This condition, or otherwise called as foundation heaving is another warning sign for slab leaks. If you see a significant shift in your home’s foundation then there’s no point of delay. You need to call for the professionals for a slab leak repair.
Fixing the Slab Leak
Slab leak detection is one thing and slab leak repair is another. Doing the repair on your own isn’t a suggested method. It’s difficult and it’s costly. The best option is to seek out the help and services of a professional plumbing company that offers the services that you need – slab leak repair. The other downside of doing a slab leak repair on your own is the risk of ripping your floors and ending up destroying the wrong area. Since it’s difficult to spot slab leaks, there’s a high chance that you’re going to miss the exact location of the leak.
Call for backup
If you’re unsure, you need to reach out to a service provider to help you with your slab leaks. Do not worry much about the cost because when things become worse, that cost you were going to pay for the repair will double in amount. Entrust the slab leak repair to the professional who have been trained for the job and who already have years of experience with it. You are more assured when you put your trust to a licensed and insured team of contractors.
Reach out to a professional service provider today.
